England cricket team

[TightEnd]

It has been a brilliant tour having nz over, they have brought a great brand of entertaining, competitive cricket while playing the game in the right spirit, which England seem to have responded to in a similar manner. Going to be a bit downer when we get the Aussies, all snarling and full of bluster and the fact that they will probably beat us.

Surprised to see Rashid left out of the 14 man squad going to camp in Spain, which will presumably make up the test ashes squad. I think rolling the dice and taking some risks is the way we may somehow win the ashes.

like rashid, think he is talented. would have wanted him to play in the west indies and see how close he is

also do not think he is good enough for 5 tests against the aussies as of now

the lack of development of spinning talent and the earlier than required retirement of swann has left us struggling

last time in the home ashes we prepared dry pitches, swann took 22 wickets and was real difference maker

we can't do that this time, nor can we prepare green tops as starc, johnson, harris, hazlewood and siddle against anderson+2 doesn't see us any better off either

we might be competitive for spells but i can't see what pitches we will prepare that see us have an edge

[nellberg]

It has been a brilliant tour having nz over, they have brought a great brand of entertaining, competitive cricket while playing the game in the right spirit, which England seem to have responded to in a similar manner. Going to be a bit downer when we get the Aussies, all snarling and full of bluster and the fact that they will probably beat us.

Surprised to see Rashid left out of the 14 man squad going to camp in Spain, which will presumably make up the test ashes squad. I think rolling the dice and taking some risks is the way we may somehow win the ashes.

like rashid, think he is talented. would have wanted him to play in the west indies and see how close he is

also do not think he is good enough for 5 tests against the aussies as of now

the lack of development of spinning talent and the earlier than required retirement of swann has left us struggling

last time in the home ashes we prepared dry pitches, swann took 22 wickets and was real difference maker

we can't do that this time, nor can we prepare green tops as starc, johnson, harris, hazlewood and siddle against anderson+2 doesn't see us any better off either

we might be competitive for spells but i can't see what pitches we will prepare that see us have an edge

any small chance Rashid's exclusion is part bluff to the aussies so they don't prepare for him / giving him an extra county championship game to state his case? whilst he isn't the finished article he offers a lot, and the aussies have a bit of a weakness against wrist spin. giving the way Moeen has bowled since coming back from injury Rashid surely has to be at least on the selectors radar? yeh, if we prepare pitches to suit seamers we'll be in bother, toughest problem at the moment for the aussies is which quick to bench out of Harris, Johnson, Hazlewood and Starc. Harris is a lock, Hazlewood looks like McGrath mark II, Starc will be a handful with new and old ball and the sight of Mitchell Johnson makes out batsman weak at the knees!

[AndrewT]

So, dawn will break tomorrow on one of the most tingly days - the first day of an Ashes series.

A few months ago I had no expectation of success whatsoever - thinking only rain could prevent a 5-0 drubbing but an odd feeling of confidence has gripped me. Cook's back in form, so is Broad. Stokes is suddenly looking very Flintoffesque. Root is scoring runs for fun, Mark Wood looks promising - it's all good.

Well, obv Bell is still in the doldrums, and Ballance is going through the process of getting found out but I have confidence. Maybe these Aussies aren't as good as we were led to believe. Harris has gone, Hazlewood is not all that, Haddin and Rogers are nearly as old as I am.

I've had a lump on us winning in Cardiff at 16/5 - forecast looks fair.

It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.

[TightEnd]

this was good, by the normally horrible standards of the green marketing men

[TightEnd]

https://soundcloud.com/abc_grandstand/aus-v-essex-6-into-the-commentary-box

[kp24]

Can't wait for it to start and all the talk to stop,my biggest concern is the bowling just think we will struggle to take 20 wickets can't see us producing green seamers for the series that would be a mistake

[Woodsey]

Ryan Harris being out isn't going to do us any harm, they still have a very good bowling attack though....

[TightEnd]

there is a very simple ashes fantasy game at

www.alloutcricket.com/ashes/fantasy

if you want to pick a team, log on and register and PM me for the password to the mini league at

http://www.alloutcricket.com/cricket/fantasy/mini-leagues?m=view&id=429

then go ahead

the league is set up just needs people

[Woodsey]

Bloody hell, forgot it starts today!! Fooking new job distracting me from the important stuff in life 

[Chompy]

See Ponting's been at the Just For Men then.

[Longy]

What the hell is this crap before the game, this is cricket just get out there.

[TightEnd]

great minds think alike

"It's 11am. Its not raining. why are we messing around with hymns, flags and anthems? i mean, really....."

[TightEnd]

good grief, a slow low seamer.

[MereNovice]

good grief, a slow low seamer.

Irony?


A poor start by the Australian seamers; not making the England batsmen play enough.

[TightEnd]

i loved this line

"Pitch appears to have been prepared with some form of industrial horse tranquiliser."